Lewiston airport has passenger fees on the radar

Dec. 20--Nez Perce County has given the green light for Lewiston's airport to begin collecting passenger fees.

Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement Monday that will allow the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport Authority to start collecting the fees attached to every ticket for a passenger who flies through the airport once the city pays off a debt next year.

Airport Manager Robin Turner said passenger charges are being used to pay off the debt, currently totaling $320,599, that was taken out by the city for previously completed improvements before the creation of the airport authority in 2010.

Approximately $252,000 of the debt is due in June with the remaining funds expected to be repaid by December 2012.

Those passenger facilities charges account for approximately $4.50 from every ticket that passes through the airport. They have been collected at Lewiston for at least the last 15 years Turner said.

Turner said the airport authority, which was created out of the city and the county, will be able to use that funding for construction projects once the debt is paid. Airport authority board members have said they intend to use the funds as a means of building up matching funds for federal grants the authority seeks for projects.

The agreement still has to be approved by the Lewiston City Council, though the council is not scheduled to meet again until the first week in January.

One of the airport authority's tasks is to become financially solvent without the help of the city or the county, and Turner said collection of the passenger fees should help the authority board with that goal.

"It puts the airport in a good position to be right there at self sufficiency," Turner said.

Also Monday:

--The commission approved the abandonment of an alleyway in the Eagles Pointe subdivision east of Lewiston.

--Commissioners read proclamations from the county and from Idaho Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter commemorating Nez Perce County's 150th birthday. The county is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Brammer Building, with speeches at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate the milestone.

Gary may be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 848-2262.

Copyright 2011 - Lewiston Tribune, Idaho